Harking explained the situation to the AI, describing the array they’d encountered, the message it had relayed, the subsequent choice to find a new jump point, and the unexpected run-in with the Abattoir.

“And the array,” the AI said, “This One surmises that it is the product of The Incorporated.”

“I agree,” Harking replied. “If it had been the Detached, we would already be dead. Instead, we were warned away from the jump point, so it can only be The Incorporated.”

“This One concurs.”